On the plate, it's one of the tastiest fish. So can this hazardous catch be specifically targeted? The answer is yes. Although it's a rare catch for those who don't specifically seek it out, it is possible to increase your chances by adopting the right techniques and choosing the right spots.
Where to find Saint-Pierre
The Saint-Pierre mainly evolves on bottoms composed of sand, gravel and a few rocks, where it can hunt on the lookout. All along the Atlantic coast from Hendaye to Dunkirk, it can be found at depths of between 30 and 60 meters. It is more common on the southern half of our Atlantic coast, and much less so on the northern half. Its hunting method is unique: a poor swimmer, it hides and sucks up its prey thanks to its highly extensible mouth. Its favorite meal is sandeel, a small fish that lives on sandy bottoms.
If you want to catch a Saint-Pierre, concentrate your efforts on isolated landforms such as rocks, drop-offs and wrecks, and favour calm weather conditions. In fact, vertical drift fishing, or the elevator technique, requires you to stay in line with the boat, with no wind, especially when targeting this species.
Elevator technology
The most effective method for fishing the St. Pierre is the elevator technique. This is a vertical fishing technique in which, once you've reached the bottom, you slowly bring the lure up over a third of the water height. For example, on a bottom of 30 metres, reel from 30 to 20 metres and then back down. The Saint Pierre can follow the bait for a long time before biting, so it's important to use a very slow and regular retrieve, for example a turn of the crank every 3 to 4 seconds. Yes, it's slow!
The aim is to make wide, slow movements, with occasional pauses. The touch is often expressed by a slight shock or heaviness on the line. Relative heaviness, as the Saint-Pierre hardly ever fights...
Choosing lures and colors
To interest this fish, we recommend using good-sized lures, such as imitation sand eels or soft lures between 17 and 22 cm. I prefer natural colors such as black, blue or green with glitter or holographic foil that emit reflections. Pink is also very good.
Often, the satisfaction of seeing this mysterious fish on the surface more than makes up for the lack of combat. By mastering the elevator technique and choosing the right lure, you'll maximize your chances of encountering this fish while still having the chance to hit bass and pollack.
